Title The Independent, June 27, 1901. Vol LIII, No. 2743 [Quest of the Orchis]

Binding No Binding

Book Condition Very Good

Type Newspaper

Edition 1st Edition

Size 4to - over 9¾ - 12

Publisher New York The Independent 1901

Seller ID 000061

New York: The Independent, June 27, 1901. Vol LIII, No. 2743. Single weekly publication in original wraps (not a previously bound copy). Measures 6-3/4" x 9-5/8" tall. 59 pp. with 12 total pages of advertisements (i-iv, 1457-1516, v-xii). Cover contains full contents of title and author. (Bibliographic reference: Crane C2) This single month wraps of The INDEPENDENT is very scarce and notable for containing Robert Frost's very early third appearance in print in a national magazine, predating his first book. 'The Quest of the Orchis' was included in the June 27, 1901 issue, published as R. L. Frost, and is only his third appearance, after his 1894 inclusion of the poem 'My Butterfly: An Elegy' and a 1896 poem 'The Birds Do Thus' in the same magazine. Elizabeth Shepley Sergeant's description in Robert Frost: The Trial by Existence explains it in detail: '...Frost has often said, was one of the two most crucial experiences of a literary and poetic kind in his student life: "I happened into the old library, and found on the magazine rack a copy of the Independent, with a poem on the front page. This experience gave me my very first revelation that a publication existed, anywhere in my native land, that was a vehicle for the publication of poetry. There was even an editorial about this poem, which I read with rapt amaze. So when later I had a poem [My Butterfly], I of course sent it to the Independent.'" Overall, very good condition, with flaws noted: Light chipping at head of spine and top edge of cover. Top/fore corner rounded from mechanical damage (see picture). Creased lower front spine near lower staple location. Staples appear lightly oxidized. Otherwise internally clean and tight two-staple binding. Entire cover wraps have become unglued and disconnected from text block. Not ex-library.